Two stationary caravans, two cars and one touring caravan were wrecked at the Ford Lane site.

Fabricator Alistair Parkin, 26, and his family were left homeless by the blaze, which he said was started by a candle.

They had to flee in just their pyjamas and have been given clothes by a kindly neighbour.

Two caravans, one static home and two cars were destroyed in the fire at the Ford Farm mobile home site near Derby

This morning, he was at the scene still trying to take it all in and assess the situation after the fire crews had left.

Mr Parkin has been living at the park for four years and was staying in a small caravan whilst his mother, father, sister, teenage nephew and baby niece were in a larger caravan. Both were destroyed in the blaze.

Mr Parkin was asleep when his nephew woke him up as the fire took hold.

He said: “My nephew banged on the door at about half five and woke me up. The flames were big; it was well alight.

“We grabbed the baby and everyone just got out.”

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Next to the main caravan was a static home which the family were doing up and which was also badly damaged. Mr Parkin appeared to be in shock and was walking through the wreckage collecting in plastic bags anything he could find that was not damaged.

He said: “It started with a candle. Just a candle.”

Along with the three homes, two cars parked between them were also wrecked as the fire spread. The family are now staying with family and friends in various locations across the country.

The family has lived at the site for four years after moving from Breaston.

The static home which was badly damaged is on the left while the main caravan, which was completely destroyed, is in the centre.

Mr Parkin said there were seven gas canisters beside the middle caravan which luckily did not catch light.

He said: "I was standing beside them using a hose to damp them down for ages. They offered us help and medical assistance but we didn't take it"

"They (my family) are being looked after at the moment by a kind neighbour on the site."

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His dad, builder Gordon Parkin, 54, was not inside the caravan when it caught light. He rushed to the scene and arrived at about half past seven as firefighters were damping down.

Gordon’s wife Tracy, 48, their daughter Lucy, 31, with Lucy’s children James, 15, and Nellie who is 11 months old, were all in the main caravan when the fire took hold.

James rushed to alert his uncle Alistair and woke him up in the smaller caravan.

The fire broke out at a caravan park in Ford Lane, off Little Eaton island, near Derby. (Image: Google)

Gordon said: “It was a candle that was in the lounge. I am gutted, just gutted. We are not sure where we are going to go. I might see if we can stay with my other daughter in Andover but the council are trying to help us too and they are getting back to us. None of it was insured.

“The caravans and the static home weren’t covered as they are really difficult to get insurance for. It took me five years to renovate the mobile home and it was two months off being finished and now it’s gone. The roof is destroyed.

“We were only waiting to do the windows and doors and now there’s nothing left."

A fire service spokeswoman said the blaze broke out shortly before 5.50am.

Three fire engines from Duffield, Kingsway and Nottingham Road stations attended and crews were "damping down" at the scene before they left at about 7.30am.

Group Manager Steve Ratcliffe who attended the incident said: “The fire started in the living room of a static caravan, due to a candle which had not been put out. The fire spread quickly and affected neighbouring properties and vehicles.

“Thankfully one of the occupants, who was sleeping in the living room, was able to alert the rest of the family and neighbouring properties and get everyone out and to safety.”

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service would like to remind people of the some important candle safety advice.

Always put candles out when you leave a room, make sure they're put out completely before going to sleep and keep candles out of the reach of children or pets.

Use candles in non-flammable holders, something that prevents the candle from falling over and is big enough for the size of candle you are using.

Be sure it is placed on a stable, heat-resistant surface which will prevent possible heat damage to surfaces and prevent glass containers from cracking or breaking.